Busan is good

2025 Aviation Travel Market in the Global Hub City of Busan to Open at Busan City Hall

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will jointly host the “2025 Aviation Travel Market in the Global Hub City of Busan” with the Korea Airports Corporation for two days, today (20th) and tomorrow (21st), in the first-floor lobby (main hall) of Busan City Hall.

The event has been organized annually since 2020 to provide citizens with opportunities to purchase discounted airline tickets and travel packages, supporting the continued revitalization of Gimhae Airport and the full recovery of international passenger traffic to the pre-pandemic level of 10 million. Celebrating its sixth year, the event aims to encourage air travel sentiment among citizens, stimulate travel demand, and offer participating companies a platform to promote sales—thus contributing to the growth of international passenger traffic at Gimhae Airport and establishing itself as a signature regional promotion event for airlines and travel agencies.

This year’s event will feature discounted airline tickets and travel packages departing from Busan, along with promotional events by each participating company. A total of seven airlines will join the event—Air Busan, Eastar Jet, T’way Air, Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, EVA Air, and Kanot Sharo Airlines, which currently operates the longest-distance route departing from Busan (Busan–Tashkent)—together with three travel agencies: Hana Tour, Modetour, and Yellow Balloon Tour.

Participating companies will offer various programs, including special domestic and international airfare promotions, discounted package tours, brand promotion events, and sales of airline merchandise (goods). Airlines also plan to strengthen brand marketing linked to the revitalization of Gimhae Airport’s international network by promoting mid- and long-haul routes and introducing upcoming new routes.

Meanwhile, Busan Metropolitan City noted that Gimhae Airport is expected to reach 10 million international passengers by the end of December this year, as airlines have recently been expanding route options, launching new services, and increasing flight frequencies to enhance travel convenience for local residents. As of October 2025, the number of passengers using Gimhae International Airport’s international routes reached 8.82 million, with 42 routes connecting 42 cities in 15 countries. With international passenger volumes repeatedly setting new monthly records, trends suggest that the annual total will exceed 10 million.

In particular, Busan Metropolitan City introduced two new direct routes to Central Asia this year—the Busan–Tashkent and Busan–Almaty routes—the first time any regional airport in Korea has established such connections. More than 10,000 passengers have already traveled on these routes, reducing the inconvenience previously faced by citizens who had to use Incheon International Airport. The city is continuing efforts to expand and support the development of mid- and long-haul routes departing from Busan.

The city provides administrative and financial support for routes such as the Busan–Tashkent route, the first and longest direct flight to Central Asia from Busan (5,139 km). On September 25, Busan Metropolitan City held an invitational event for foreign airlines newly entering domestic airports, jointly with the Korea Airports Corporation, to present its support plans for mid- and long-haul routes directly to the heads of 14 foreign airline branch offices, including Finnair.

Heo Nam-sik, Head of the New Airport Promotion Headquarters of Busan Metropolitan City, emphasized, “This event is particularly meaningful as it is held ahead of the year-end milestone of achieving 10 million international passengers at Gimhae Airport, allowing us to prepare for this achievement together with our citizens.” He added, “The expansion of air travel demand, the establishment of new direct international routes, and the stable increase in route supply are crucial foundations for generating future demand for Gadeokdo New Airport.”

He continued, “Going forward, the city will continue to concentrate administrative efforts not only on promotional events like this but also on securing traffic rights, attracting new route launches, and collaborating proactively with the Korea Airports Corporation and airlines to expand long-haul services from Busan to regions such as the Americas and Europe, while further revitalizing Gimhae Airport.”

He also noted, “With the significant increase in flight operations by various airlines under the winter schedule that began on October 26, we expect that air travel departing from Busan will become even more convenient for citizens in the months ahead.”